Based on 2 Thessalonians 3 (New King James Version)
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Throughout this passage we see that we are taught things that are fundamental to be able to fulfill the will of God. The instructions we receive are not for certain believers, but for all. People who are new to their faith in Christ or who have not been properly instructed in the faith may ask: Why is it necessary to obey the Word of God and do His will? And the answer was given by the Lord Himself when He said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. Some may reply, “Why then do many say and believe that faith in Christ does not consist of works, and that, if we were not saved by works, works are of no use after conversion either?” And the answer is simple: “Because they are very wrong because they either do not know the fullness of the Word of God, or because they have simply adopted an erroneous doctrine.” We are not saved by works, and we can never earn salvation by our own merits. That is very clear in the Word, because it says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. But the problem emerges when either the majority do not know the following verse, or they very conveniently do not take it into consideration, which also says: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10. God created man to serve Him. This was the purpose of our existence. If you want the answer to the question: ‘Why do we exist?’ This is the answer: ‘to serve God.’ This was from the beginning, before man fell into disobedience, as it is also written: “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” Genesis 2:15. So then, God gave man a task to perform immediately after being created.
And then, you may also ask, ‘Wasn't work a punishment from God for man having sinned?’ No. Man always had to work, it was always God's purpose for man to do good works, the will of the Father. The big difference was between what God originally intended and the consequence of sin. Sin made the work more difficult, because of the decay and death that sin produces. This was the punishment: “Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: ‘Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:17-19. So then, sin changed something good like serving God into something very difficult and complicated. But working and serving God was always God’s plan.
Now, what then did God do through Christ? God gave us a new opportunity to do His will, to serve Him, to do those things for which we were created and are allowed to continue existing. So, through this we now understand that man is not saved by his works, but rather, for good works. Therefore, works or serving God gains value again through Christ. And this is what helps us understand that the person who does not serve God as a fruit of their faith will not be able to enter the kingdom of God. If a person's faith does not have works as fruit, then their faith is dead. This is what the Word says: “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, o foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:18-20. So, it is easy to conclude that, if a person does not have works that glorify God as the fruit of their faith, it means that, in the least, there is a serious problem. Can a person who has a dead faith live forever? No. It's impossible.
So, what do we see in this passage that is God's will for us? To be in prayer, concerned that the Word of God spread through us, or in the least, help others spread His Word. What else? That we work both for the Lord and in the secular. It is disorder not to work and provide for one's own needs as well as for the needs of others who cannot provide for themselves, the needy (but not the lazy, nor the irresponsible, nor least of all, those who use the ministry for their own profit). The Apostle Paul himself talks about his own way of life, that he worked hard secularly so as not to be a burden, as well as in the ministry (obviously). Furthermore, it is estimated that Paul traveled more than 10,000 miles (16,000 km) to preach the Gospel and to help and instruct believers, at a time when there were no automobiles, trains, airplanes, or much less, television, radio or the internet. With everything we have today, what would this world be like if all of us who call ourselves followers of Christ were so concerned about serving God, working properly, and loving our neighbors? The world would be a very different place. So, today I ask you, ‘Are you seeking to do the will of God for eternal life?” Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!